Alot of the things in this surah seem going through stages and reaching a final conclusion.

Allah expects us to fill in the blanks ourselves, so He will give some description and then expect us to know what was not mentioned. This keeps the hearer of the Qur’an alert and affirm the reality.

This Surah is split up into 4 parts:
1st part – The first 5 ayaat like the surahs before describe the events of the Last (Judgment) Day. This is done by the phrase; Idhaa (When.. [future tense])
2nd part – 6th – 15th ayah – the journey of the human being.
3rd part – 16th – 25th ayah – for man to reflect on nature, and how nature gradually changes (tadreej).
4th part – The remaining ayaat are a Warning. Now that you’ve heard these arguments presented – take warning.

[callout font_size=”27px” style=”cherry”]Ayah 1:[/callout]

Ayah 1:

إِذَا السَّمَاءُانشَقَّتْ
idhas-smaa’u an shaqqat

When the sky has split [open]

Idhaa – when (future tense).as-smaa’ = the sky

inshaqat – to be torn completely.Shaq – something cut/ripping that you don’t usually imagine being torn/cut. i.e. rocks, sky, the earth, etc.

shaq – is irreversible. Once the sky is torn/ripped – it cannot be back to normal again like before its tearing.

The inevitable – the point of no return – the conclusion of the sky we have above us is that it will be torn and will never return to its normal state after that.

Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, “Come [into being], willingly or by compulsion.” They said, “We have come willingly.”[Fussilat 41:11]

Allah is calling to attention the rebel. When the sky is waiting to tear itself, it listens. So why then aren’t you – the sinner not submitting to His command?

The sky and earth responded to Allah – in their own language which He understands – and they obeyed Him in their forming and creation. And they will obey Him when He tells them to cause destruction to themselves.

The sky will fulfill its purpose of being torn:

huqqat – it is its duty to do so. It is only becoming of it to do so. It has to do it, because its Lord has commanded it to.

So when Allah criticises the human being, He compares us to the rest of the Universe.

The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them exalt Him. And there is not a thing except that it exalts [ Allah ] by His praise, but you do not understand their [way of] exalting. Indeed, He is ever Forbearing and Forgiving. [Israa’ 17:44]

Except us humans and the jinn, who have the freedom to obey or reject praising Him. But with that power comes responsibility.

Human beings should intently listen to their Master and – like the rest of the creation – when Allah orders them to do something – they should listen straightaway. But instead there are some who do the total opposite;

Now we’re being shown a contrast between us and the sky, with the sky being much more greater than us, yet that obeys Allah more than humans do. And what is the human?

أَأَنتُمْ أَشَدُّ خَلْقًا أَمِ السَّمَاءُ ۚ بَنَاهَا

Are you more difficult to create, or is the heaven that He constructed? [Nazi’at 79:27]

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ كَيْفَ مَدَّ الظِّلَّوَلَوْ شَاءَ لَجَعَلَهُ سَاكِنًا ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَا الشَّمْسَ عَلَيْهِ دَلِيلًاHave you not considered your Lord – how He extends [madda]the shadow, and if He willed, He could have made it stationary? Then We made the sun for it an indication. [Furqan 25:45]

Allah makes us reflect on our shadows and how they become longer (madda) as time passes by quickly.

Abu Huraira reported, Allah’s Messenger said; “When the Day of Ressurection happens, Allah will stretch the Earth like leather الأديم(flat).Until the point where there will be no place to move except the place where a persons 2 feet are. And I (Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah) will be the first to be called. And Jibreel will be on the right side of the Most Merciful (Allah). By Allah, this will be the first time Jibreel will see his Lord.[Allah’s Messenger will say to Allah]”This is the one (Angel Jibreel) that informed me that You (Allah) have sent him to me.”

So Allah will reply; Sadaqt – You have said the truth…

This stretching of the Earth has been described in this Surah. And the One who can stretch the Earth has full power over it.

Agnostics of the Past and the Present are the Same:

The people who believed in a god at the time of Allah’s Messenger believed he was a distant god who created the Earth and left it to be (like some agnostics think today). Or He is above the sky and we are in charge of the Earth (like the Egyptian Pharoah’s would think). That Allah is not concerned with this tiny small Earth, when we consider all the different galaxies and the vastness of the entire Universe.

This was their perception of God before too. And many in ignorance without Islam think that now aswell.

But the One who created and designed it first – then why can’t He send guidance for what is within it? Why can’t He take control of it – if He is its Original Maker?

[callout font_size=”27px” style=”cherry”]Ayah 4:[/callout]
Ayah 4:

وَأَلْقَتْمَا فِيهَا وَتَخَلَّتْ
Wa alqat maa feeha wa takhallat

And has cast out all that was in it and became empty,

alqat – laqiyat – when 2 things come together – face to face.

alqa – from ilqa – to cast something and throw infront of everyone.

Just like when Moses threw his stick against Pharoah and his magicians;

فَأَلْقَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِيَ ثُعْبَانٌ مُّبِينٌ

So [Musa (Moses)] threw his stick, and behold, it was a serpent, manifest. [Shu’ara’ 26:32]

The Day the earth is stretched, it will be throwing outeverything that is within it (maa fee ha) – all that is within it. Including the dead bodies of the people.

Imagine a sheet of paper that is crumpled up and you stretch it. All the curves. All the heights become straight and level.

وَإِنَّا لَجَاعِلُونَ مَا عَلَيْهَا صَعِيدًا جُرُزًا

And indeed, We will make that which is upon it [into] a barren ground.[Kahf 18:8]

at-takhali – to empty out entirely. I.e. This word is used for A mother who gives birth to her child. – she empties her womb out entirely by letting the child out.

This is being used for the Earth that contains the bodies of the sinners and the righteous, knowing that it needs to remove its burden so these humans can be punished or rewarded for their deeds.

Finally unleashing the burden of what was inside of it for so long.

Also see Surah Zilzalah.

[callout font_size=”27px” style=”cherry”]Ayah 5:[/callout]
Ayah 5:

وَأَذِنَتْلِرَبِّهَا وَحُقَّتْ
wa adhinatli rabihaa wa huqqat

And has respondedto its Lord and was obligated [to do so]

Just like the sky (see tafseer of Ayah 2), the earth can’t wait to get permission to release its burden.The earth is waiting attentively to and is pleased to do that. This is what is being implied. (this is because people do so much sin on it, that it can’t wait for the Day when it will be able to release its burden).

And its only rightful for it to do so.

What will happen when all this occurs?

Their is no answer in this surah…

Our knowledge of the previous surahs’ should give us the answer;

عَلِمَتْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ وَأَخَّرَتْ

Every soul will know what it has brought forward and left behind (of deeds).(Infitar 82:5)

When you see the sky torn across without repair, when you see the earth flattened out – you will remember what deeds you had done in this temporary worldly life.

kadh – struggle towards something, whether good or bad – you strive for it and you are immersed within it so it exhausts you.

you are struggling continuously through your efforts in life, whether you’re struggling in good or bad, for business or projects.. You are continuosly strivingly – knowingly or unknowingly:ilaa rabika– towards your Lord.

fa mulaqeeh. – then you will meet Him for sure – (on Judgment Day) to stand infront of Him and be judged for your deeds.

As-Sabooni said: you’re going to meet your own labour. The fruits of your efforts of this life (whether good or bad), you will meet them with your Lord.

There isn’t a moment that goes by – except that it is taking you closer towards your Lord – approaching to Judgment Day.

وَوَجَدُوا مَا عَمِلُوا حَاضِرًا ۗ وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا

And they will find all that they did, placed before them, and your Lord treats no one with injustice. [Kahf 18:49]

oowtiya is different to yu’ta (present tense).
Oowtiya (past tense) – has been given.
Past tense is used for Certainty.

The one who has been given the book in his right hand.

The book of Illiyeen will fall into his right hand. (see Mutafiffeen 83:18).
Yameen = right hand. Also an expression of power, and an agreement (done deal). Also an expression of honour.

This person is in power of joy and ease, while others are weak. He also knows that Allah has made an agreement and given him honour by placing the book in his right hand – a Promise of Jannah/Paradise.

The one who recieves the book in his right hand – he will be overjoyed, running around, telling the people he has passed, he has won!

So as for he who is given his record in his right hand, he will say, “Here, read my record! Indeed, I was certain that I would be meeting my account.” So he will be in a pleasant life – In an elevated garden,

Before even entering Paradise, these people are in ease because of an easy accounting.

إِنَّ الْأَبْرَارَ لَفِي نَعِيمٍ.surely the righteous are in ease.[Infitar 82:13]

تَعْرِفُ فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ نَضْرَةَ النَّعِيمِ– you will see from their faces pleasure and ease. (Mutafiffeen 83:24).

the T in Ta’rifu = You(O Muhammad)will recognise from their faces ease. You can only recognise someone if you are amongst them. And Allah’s Messenger will be with those who get the book in their right hand.

Their faces lit up when they get the book in their right hand. Because before this, they didn’t know which hand their book (record containing their deeds) would land in.

The nervousness of the people before us of the Salaf.

Us people think we will go to Paradise with an easy reckoning, the Salaf before us would fear, even though Allah was pleased with the companions of Allah’s Messenger (see al Fath, last ayah.)

Abu Bakr; if one of my feet was in Paradise, and the other was outside of it, i would not feel safe from Allah’s planning.

Umar; walahi law naada munaadin yawmal qiyamah, an qulu naasin fil jannah, il-laa rajulun waahid, la dhanantu ana hu (Umar) ibn al Khattab.I swear By Allah, if a caller was to call on the Day of Ressurection that every person from mankind will go to Paradise except 1 person, I would think/be convinced that he is (Umar) ibn al Khattab.

This is the nervousness of the companions of Allah’s Messenger who were promised Paradise!

This struggling has to be focused for the sake of Allah to gain such a reward of paradise.

2 words used to mean Easy;

– hayyin– yaseer – easy, lightweight, comfortable, effortless.

فَسَوْفَيُحَاسَبُحِسَابًايَسِيرًا

(Then as for him who will be given his Record in his right hand, he surely, will receive an easy reckoning,) (84:7-8) meaning, easy without any difficulty. This means that he will not be investigated for all the minute details of his deeds. For verily, whoever is reckoned like that, he will certainly be destroyed.

Imam Ahmad recorded from `A’ishah that the Messenger of Allah said,

«مَنْ نُوقِشَ الْحِسَابَ عُذِّب»

(Whoever is interrogated during the reckoning, then he will be punished.)

This means that those whose books Allah overlooks will go to Jannah/Paradise without punishment.

When Allah is Merciful to him, and does not punish him – He joyously goes back and says Iqra’u kitabiyah! [Surah Haaqah] “look at my book!” He’s passed!

We ask Allah to make us of them, ameen.

Because even when you have good marks, you’re afraid that the mistakes and errors may be picked on. I.e. Why did you this?
So a person is relieved when Allah overlooks his mistakes.

Brother Nouman reminds us of getting our work being marked by the teacher – hoping that you don’t have anything wrong. Whilst the teacher is marking, you be anxious, hoping, praying you pass without anything wrong. Imagine Allah going through your account and overlooking the mistakes, and finally handing your book back to you without asking you why you did something wrong.

And those who believe and whose offspring follow them in Faith, to them shall We join their offspring, and We shall not decrease the reward of their deeds in anything. Every person is a pledge for that which he has earned.
[at-Toor 52:21]

So if you have family who does good Islamic work, encourage them instead of preventing them. Because if you’re in a low rank of Jannah/paradise – they can help you come to the top.
You’ll have connections to give you higher ranks in Jannah, just by encouraging the ones who do the best good deeds.

قَالُوا إِنَّا كُنَّا قَبْلُ فِي أَهْلِنَا مُشْفِقِينَ

They will say, “Indeed, we were previously among our people fearful [of displeasing Allah ].

[at-Toor 52:26]

Always worrying about their family in this life, will they go astray? How can we prevent that. Just like Prophet Ya’qub on his deathbed;

Or were you witnesses when death approached Ya’qub (Jacob)? When he said unto his sons, “What will you worship after me?” They said, “We shall worship your Ilah (God – Allah), the Ilah (God) of your fathers, Ibrahim (Abraham), Isma’il (Ishmael), Ishaque (Isaac), One Ilah (God), and to Him we submit (in Islam).”

[al Baqarah 2:133]

This world is the time for concern, the next life is the time for joy.

In comparison – in previous mutafifeen [83:31] – the disbelievers came to their families, joyous, without fear of Judgment Day.

وَإِذَا انقَلَبُوا إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِمُ انقَلَبُوا فَكِهِينَ

And when they returned to their people [ahl – families/people], they would return jesting.[Mutafiffeen 83:31]

O you who have believed, indeed, among your wives and your children are enemies to you, so beware of them. But if you pardon and overlook and forgive – then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.[Taghabun 64:14]

Since your family might do things which are pleasing, but they earn the wrath and punishment of Allah. So they can be your enemies unknowingly.

So to achieve the best happiness – we need to get closer to Allah with our families – so we can all celebrate together on that Day truly.

وَأْمُرْ أَهْلَكَ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَاصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْهَاۖ لَا نَسْأَلُكَ رِزْقًا ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكَ ۗ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰAnd enjoin prayer upon your family [and people] and be steadfast therein. We ask you not for provision; We provide for you, and the [best] outcome is for [those of] righteousness. [Taha 20:132]

Umar would do that and make his family pray Tahajjud, whilst reciting that.

So make the religion of Allah beautiful for them. So they find joy in obedience to Allah. If they don’t listen – be patient and try different methos to attract them.

But as for he who is given his record in his left hand, he will say, “Oh, I wish I had not been given my record.[al Haaqah 69:25]

We study the Qur’an with different surahs to understand its meaning in its totality.

the salaf had the view that the criminals right hand is tied to their neck in chains, and their left hand is tied behind their backs. Their chained like this.
So they get the book in their left hand, but behind their back. Others said they would hide it behind their backs out of shame.

Nay, but they deny the [coming of the] Hour, the Resurrection, and We have prepared for those who deny the Hour a blaze (sa‘īr), a fire that has been set ablaze (musa‘‘ara), in other words, an intense [fire].[Furqan 25:11]

Jaheem has always been used before, but now sa’eer is mentioned. Whenever sa’eer is mentioned, thaboor [destruction] is mentioned next to it. (part of the consistency of the Qur’an).

In the previous surah – these criminals would laugh at the believers, and when they would pass by them – they would wink at each other in mockery. And when they would return to their families – they would say, these are the ones who are lost. (see Mutafiffeen 83: 29-32).

Look at the change of tone now, these same people will cry for their own destruction.

So anyone with even abit of decency will think to himself, asking himself whether what he is doing is correct, and if he should mend his ways for the better. But the one who doesn’t even benefit from this, but instead persists in harming Muslims – then what good have they got left inside of them?

The believer did not have full suroor in this life, because the joys he did have had concern for Judgment Day with them. The disbeliever however thought “we only have this life, make the most joy out of it as possible”.
Ibn Katheer: he was always happy with his family, not thinking about the consequences of his actions or what will come of him for Judgment, so Allah payed his careless joy with a lasting grief.

Inshiqaq – knowledge of Allah, what is in the hearts and minds. If all of that angels scribing what you do doesn’t affect you – then you should know that your Lord had full view of what you did externally and internally.

And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam – from their loins – their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], “Am I not your Lord?” They said, “Yes, we have testified.” [This] – lest you should say on the day of Resurrection, “Indeed, we were of this unaware.”

[A’raf 7:172]

So we would return to Allah after having been with Him before we came into this world.

Rather the Qur’an is psychological, look into yourself, look outside of yourself. The Qur’an guides a person through different forms of reflection.

Use your sense of balance and justice (universally recognised principles) – but ask yourself where did you get your balance from? How can that balance make you become even better, by not just believing its right, but implementing and spreading balance and justice among mankind too.

It goes beyond philosophy, it actually guides to what is higher than human thought. This is Qur’anic logic.

and i swear by the night as it envelops. What gathers and envelops inside of it everything (the darkness gradually covers everything so its as if the darkness has swallowed everything.)
the red sky gradually turns intodarkness – gradual progression.

[callout font_size=”27px” style=”cherry”]Ayah 18:[/callout]
Ayah 18:

وَالْقَمَرِ إِذَا اتَّسَقَ
Walqamari idha ittasaq

And [by] the moon when it becomes full

and i swear by the moon as it tasaqq.

tasaqq = to become full and complete. Coming together till gradual fullness.

Nature around you is going around you in these gradual stages. Just like the clock is ticking, just like the moon gradually grows into a full moon in the month, and then becomes small again.

Just like we are heading towards our Lord gradually(fa mulaqeeh) (ayah 6).

– You are first riding in one stage in the womb of your mother, then you are born.
– a little older to walk.
– talk
– independent
– more powerful than your parents.
– you can’t even walk.
– you will face the journey of death.
– you will return to your Lord.

Know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children.

(It is) as the likeness of vegetation after rain, thereof the growth is pleasing to the tillers; afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw.

But in the Hereafter (there is) a severe torment (for the disbelievers – evildoers), and (there is) forgiveness from Allâh and (His) Good Pleasure (for the believers – good-doers). And the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment.

[Quran Surah Hadeed 57:20]

This one verse concisely summarizes and sums up our entire lives. And it’s not a pretty picture. Consider our lives:

1) We start as toddlers. This verse starts with play (la`ibun), which is what toddlers are engrossed in, it’s most important to them.

2) Then when we get a little older we need entertainment to keep us busy – amusement (lahwun).

3) A little later in our teens we are obsessed with pomp, or appearance and how things look (zeenatun).

4) Then as we get independent and make money we deal with urges to show off (boasting – tafaakhur).

5) Then we get married and have kids (rivalry in wealth and children – takaathur fi al-amwaal wa al-aulaad).

In just a few words, Allah (SWT) has compressed our entire thought process throughout our lives!

And the verse finishes – And what is this life except a deceptive enjoyment?

[callout font_size=”27px” style=”cherry”]Ayah 20:[/callout]

Ayah 20:فَمَا لَهُمْ لَايُؤْمِنُونَ
Fama lahumlayu’minoon

So what is [the matter] with them [that] they do not believe,

la yu’minoon? [why do they not believe?] Eman is within the heart [Hujurat 49:7] and is affected by our actions.

Allah answers this question in the previous surah.

كَلَّا ۖ بَلْ ۜ رَانَعَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِم مَّا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ

No! Rather, the stain[from sins] has covered their hearts of that which they were earning.

And when the Qur’an is recited to them, they do not prostrate [to Allah ]?

This is an ayah of sajdah.

Ancient arabs and egyptians did prostration when in awe of someone.

وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيْهِ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ وَخَرُّوا لَهُ سُجَّدًا

And he [Yusuf] raised his parents upon the throne, and they bowed to him in prostration. [Yusuf 12:100]

فَأُلْقِيَ السَّحَرَةُ سَاجِدِينَ

So the magicians fell down in prostration [to Allah ]. [Shu’ara’ 26:46]

Lubayd was a talented poet of the ancient arabs – he made a qaseedah (poem) which was so powerful, that it became of the Mu’allaqat (the poems hung on the Ka’ba) – the other poets prostrated to him.

The Arabs recognised the greatness of the Qur’an, since they had never heard anything like or similar to it. So why don’t they then prostrate to Allah, why do they then not humble themselves to Allah? Rather they hold themselves back from doing sajdah/prostration to Him.

وَقَالَالَّذِينَكَفَرُواْلاَتَسْمَعُواْلِهَـذَاالْقُرْءَانِوَالْغَوْاْفِيهِلَعَلَّكُمْتَغْلِبُونَ]
(And those who disbelieve say: “Listen not to this Qur’an, and make noise in the midst of its (recitation) that you may overcome.”) (Fussilat 41:26)

So Allah will veil Himself from them on the Day of Ressurection;

كَلَّا إِنَّهُمْ عَن رَّبِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ لَّمَحْجُوبُونَ

Nay!, verily, they, on that day, the Day of Resurrection, will be screened off from their Lord, and so they will not see Him. [Mutafiffeen 83:15]

Certainly did Allah confer [great] favor upon the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from themselves, reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom, although they had been before in manifest error. [aal Imraan 3:164]

Allah will give them a favour of Paradise, and the believers will not credit it to anyone except Allah.

Beginning of the Surah’s Relation to its End:

The surah began with – when the sky is completely cracked open out of obedience to Allah. (ayah 1)
Consequence: So the disbelievers bodies [on Judgment Day] will also throw themselves into destruction, out of obedience of Allah.

Central ayah [ayah 6] – kadhan fa mulaqeeh – you are struggling towards your Lord, and you will meet your Lord and the fruits of your deeds.
Consequence: The surah concludes; You will then either have painful punishment, or a reward which does not end.